Process of making acetylene gas.



No. 656,863. Patented Aug. 28,1900.

E. s. mus. PROCESS OF MAKING AGETYLENE GAS.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.)

4 'SheetsShaet l.

WITNES E INVENTOR ATTORNEY m: Noams PETER5 co, PNQTO-LITHO, ms

No. 656,863. Patented Aug. 28, I900.

E. s. mus. 'PROCESS OF MAKING ACETYLENE GAS.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ZQMWI J 1% ATTORNEY m: Nonms PETERS co 1 wnorauwu, wnsmunmn. n. c.

Nu. 656,863. Patented Aug. 28, I900. E. S. TITUS.

' PROCESS OF MAKING ACETYLENE GAS.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES:-

No. 656,863. PatentadQAug. 28, won. E. s. mus.

PROCESS OF MAKING ACETYLENE GAS.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.)

(no Model.)

4 Sheats-Sheet 4.

ATTORNEY PATENT Omucnt EDWARD S. TITUS, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF MAKING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 656,863, dated August 28, 1900. Application filed November 16, 1899. Serial No. 737,182. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. TITUS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Hempstead, in the county of Nassau, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Acetylene Gas; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is avertical sectional view of an apparatus which may be employed in the practice of my said invention, said figure being taken on the line as a; of Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a portion of what is shown in Fig. 1, but under different conditions. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of certain mechanism included in said apparatus. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, also on a larger scale, showing certain other mechanism also included in said apparatus. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views, also on a larger scale, of certain parts of said apparatus.

This invention comprises a certain novel process for manufacturing acetylene gas whereby the gas may be economically produced from carbid of calcium without special care to reduce it to small lumps or pieces and without loss of any appreciable quantity of the gas produced and at a moderate expense for labor and attendance.

In the practice of my said invention I first provide, in a suitable closed space or chamber, a volume or atmosphere of acetylene gas and then through this volume or atmosphere of the gas I pass carbid of calcium to a volume of water for the manufacture of the acetylene gas in large or commercial or other desired quantities.

Any suitable mechanical means may be employed in carryingmy said invention into effect; but the apparatus shown in the annexed drawings and hereinafter described has been found successful by me in practice and is at-the presenttime the best known to me for 'thepurpose.

A is a vessel which I term the generator.

In this generator is an outlet-pipe B, which is open at its upper end and which extends outward from the generator to a gasometer G, as herein presently described. The generator when the apparatus is in use is nearly filled with water, the latter extending as nearly as may be toward the open top of the pipe B, but not high enough to enter the latter.

Arranged adjacent to the upper part of the generator A is a closed or practically gas-tight feed-box D. From the lower end of this feedbox to the lower part of the generator extends a chamber, tube, or passage E, said tube or passage providing a clear way of communication from thefeed-box to the lower part of the generator. The depressed portions of the feed-box should be enlarged somewhat, as shown at a, to provide room for a transverse revoluble feed-wheel F, the shaft or axle b of which extends at one end through a side of the feed-box to permit the connection thereto of mechanism for operating the feed-wheel to feed the carbid of calcium downward from the feed-box into the chamber or passage E. The feed-wheel may be, of any desired construction. As shown in the drawings, it is formed of two circular heads a 1), fast upon the shaft b, with floats 0 extended from one to the other of the heads in directions radial to the axis of motion of the feed-wheel, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 andin dotted outline on a larger scale in Fig. 7.

The gasometer C may be of any usual or suitable construction, the movable hood or crown O of which Works in the usual water seal D. The outlet-pipe B of the generator extends from the latter into the gasometer, as shown at D. From this outlet-pipe also extends the service-pipe G,which has a branch waste-pipe G, which may lead to a sewer, and which has a trap orwater seal, as shown at d in Fig. 3, which may havea blow-off pipe G The bottom e of the generator may have the form of an inverted cone for the purpose of insuring the concentration by gravity of the lime produced in the generator at the depressed part of said bottom. From this depressed part extends a discharge-pipe E, which may be extended vertically to any desired height and which has at its upper end a pump H, by which the lime, 850., may be pumped out and withdrawn from the generator.

' The purpose of the feed-wheel F being to feed to the generator the carbid of calcium from which the acetylene gas is produced, it is requisite that the feeding action of the wheel be such as will supply the carbid in such quantities and proportions as will maintain the proper quantity of gas in the gasometer without undue pressure therein. To

. insure this,l provide means whereby the feeding action of the feed-wheel is controlled by the movement of the crown O of the gasometer, said crown being of course raised and lowered automatically by variations in the quantity and pressure of gas in the gasometer.

Loose upon the end of the shaft 17 which is extended through a side of the feed-box, as hereinbefore explained, is a sprocket-wheel I. Gearing with this sprocket-wheel, at one side thereof, is a sprocket chain or belt K, which has a weight K, which tends to draw downward the sprocket-chain, and thereby to give a rotary movement to the sprocket-wheel. The sprocket-chain is suspended from one end of a strap E, which is supported upon guidepulleys f, and the opposite end of which is attached to the movable crown C of the gasometer. As this crown moves up and down with the varying pressure of the gas in the gasometer it follows that a vertical movement in the one direction or the other is given to the sprocket-chain. This latter consequently rotates or partially rotates the sprocket-wheel in one direction or the other, according as the movement of the sprocketchain is in an upward or downward direction. Also loose upon the shaft 1) of the feedwheel is a'second sprocket-wheel L. Laid upon or over this second sprocket-wheel is a sprocket-chain M, the ends of which are pendent atopposite parts of the circumference of said sprocket-Wheel. One of these pendent ends of the sprocket-chain M is loaded, preferably, by a weight N. ,Upon the opposite end of saidchain is a second load N, which is less in weight than the load N. The load N, tending to draw downward the part of the chain to which it is attached, tends to turn in acorresponding direction the just-mentioned second sprocket-wheel L. The office of the inner weight or load N is simply to steady the chain upon the sprocket-wheel and to keep it from being easily displaced therefrom. Upon the face of the sprocket-wheel L toward the sprocket-wheel L is provided a stud or tooth g. Suitably arranged upon the adjacent face of the sprocket-wheel I is a pawl P, arranged to hear at its free end against the stud g. The pawl may be steadied somewhat in its operation with reference to this stud by providing the stud in a radial position on the periphery of a circular disk g", which is fast to the face of the sprocket-wheel L. The sprocket-chain M of the secondary sprocketwheel L is so arranged that its heavier load or weight N tends to draw the said sprocketwheel in such direction that when the pawl P of the sprocket-wheel I is moved as if to recede from the stud g of the sprocket-wheel L the stud follows the receding pawl and is kept in contact therewith, so that any forward or operative movement of the pawl P is at once communicated to the sprocket-wheel L from the sprocket-wheel I. Fast upon the axle b of the feed-wheel F is a ratchet-wheel R. Connected to the adjacent face of the sprocket-wheel L is a pawl R, the free end of which engages with the ratchet-wheel B. When the crown O of the gasometer rises by reason of increase of volume and pressure of gas in the latter, the sprocket-chain K is drawn downward proportionately by its weight and turns the sprocket-wheel I, so that the thrust of the pawl P of said sprocketwheel against the stud g of the secondary sprocket-wheel L causes the two sprocketwheels, which, as previously explained, are both of them loose upon the shaft 19 of the feed-wheel, to turn together. This movement causes the pawl R of the secondary sprocket-wheel to ride over the ratchet-teeth of the ratchet-wheel B, so that the latter is not affected nor caused to transmit motion to the feed-wheel, and the supply of carbid of calcium from the feed-box to the generator is stopped. \Vhen, however, the crown O of the gasometer moves downward by reason of diminution of volume or pressure of the gas therein, the strap E is drawn backward, thereby reversing the movement of the sprocket-chain K, and consequently thatof the sprocket-wheel I. This pushes forward the pawl P of the said sprocket-wheel, whereupon the motion of the secondary sprocketwheel L is reversed, so that its pawl R engages with the ratchet-wheel R and turns the shaft b,and consequently the feed-wheel feeds the carbid of calcium downward from the feed-box until the just-described reverse movement of the parts has ceased. Then as the gasometer rises the stud 9 follows the receding movement of the pawl P, so as to be in position to receive the thrust of the pawl when the movement of the parts is again reversed by a downward movement of the crown O of the gasometer. The feeding or supply of carbid to the generator is thus automatically regulated wit-h direct reference to andin proportion to variations in the pressure of the acetylene gas in the gasometer.

To insure the most facile and advantageous passage of the carbid along the feed-box to the feed-wheel and to avoid the tendency to clog which frequently shows itself in the use of large lumps of carbid of calcium by reason of the peculiar frictional character of the surface of the material, I provide'a sheet-metal surface to the interior of the feed-box. This may be composed of sheet-iron and should extend along the bottom and sides of the feedbox, as is indicated at s in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that when the appara- IIO tus is in use the feed-box is closed gas-tight against the external atmosphere. Openings closed by suitable covers j may be provided in the upper side or top of thefeed-box to' permit the introduction thereto of the carbid to be used in the production of the gas. These covers may be secured against internal gaspressure in the feed-box by being screw threaded to the openings or by any other suitable means.

1n the operation of the apparatus the generator and the tube or chamberE are first supplied with water to the requisite height,

- the surface of the water standing, of course,

at the same level in the gasometer and the chamber. A quantity of carbid from the feedbox being caused to descend into the chamber E meets the water in the latter and by the well-known reaction acetylene gas is produced within the said chamber. This is continued until the pressure of the gas within the chamber is sufficient to expel the water therefrom into the closed generator,where it mingles with the water previously contained therein. So long as this pressure is maintained in the chamber E the carbid fed through the chamber from the feed-box to the generator passes through a dry atmosphere of acetylene gas and does not come in contact with any appreciable quantity of moisture until at the lower or exit end of the chamber it passes into the lower part of the generator beneath a considerable depth of water in the latter. The carbid therefore enters the water solely at the lower portion thereof without passing downward from the surface of any appreciable quantity of water. The gas is thus generated at the lower part of the generator and passing through the volume of water above is thoroughly washed by the time it reaches the outlet-pipe of the generator, through and from which it passes into the gasometer. It will be observed that apart from the merely initial production of the gas in the chamber to expel the water therefrom the production of gas occurs entirely within the generator by the contact of the carbid with the large volume of water in the latter, and all of the gas generated rises through an equal amount of water and is therefore equally washed.

It will be observed that as the ohamber,tube, or passage E is, except at the initial stage of the operation of the apparatus, filled with acetylene gas through which the carbid is transmitted from the feed-box to the generator said chamber may with propriety and for convenience be termed a gas-chamber, and it is so designated in the claims hereof.

To provide for an increased efficiency in the operation of thesheet-metal lining of the feedbox, it is made somewhat loose within the box and at its end remote from the feedwheel is attached to the bottom of the box, as indicated in Fig. 2 at n, in such manner that the opposite endmay to some extent be made to rise and fall, while the bottom of the said lining at the lower end of the box is lapped slightly within the circle described by the floats of the feed-wheel as the latter revolves, so that each float as it passes upward strikes the projecting edge of the bottom of the lining and raises the lower end of the latter,letting it fall again when the rotation of the float has carried it beyond said edge, so that by this means the said box-like lining of the feed-box is jarred or shaken in a manner that assists in compelling a downward movement of the carbid to the feed-wheel when the latter is in operative motion.

In charging the feed-box with carbid access is had to the interior of the feed-box by removing the coversj of the openings in the upper side or top of the box. When this is done, the pressure of the acetylene gas in the gas-chamber E against the water in the generator is of course relieved, and the inflow into said chamber of water from the generator would expel the gas from the gas-chamber into the outside air were no precaution taken to prevent. This precaution is provided by means of a pipe B, which extends from the feed-box to the gasometer or, what in effect is the same, to the service-pipe G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and which is provided with a cock f Normally this cock is closed to shut off communication through the pipe 13 5 but preliminary to opening the feedbox to recharge the same with carbid the cock is turned to open a passage through the pipe. Therefore as the water fromthe generator rises into the gas-chamber the gas from the latter passes into the service-pipe by reason of the greater pressure of the gas in the chamber. hen the water in the gas-chamber has reached the level of that in the generator, the cock is turned to close the pipe 13, and the feed-box may then be opened for re-- charging, as described. The pipe G may be provided with a filter 10 of any suitable type.

It should be observed concerning the sprocket-chain M on the secondary sprocketwheel L that the larger or operative load or weight N is designed when the sprocketchain is not in motion to rest upon a suitable stpp or support N, which limits the reach of the traction of the said chain upon the said sprocket-wheel, and consequently limits the turning movement of the axle of the feedwheel. The stop may consist of a block or any other suitable device of the requisite height to arrest the downward movement of the load or weight at the desired point in its descent. It is to be further observed that in practice a it is desirable that the sprocketchain K move at a speed different from, although proportioned to,that of the movement of the crown O of the gasometer. To provide for this, any suitable mechanism may be employed. For example, the strap may be in two sections, the lower one with a pulley at its top, which lies in a loop a, formed by fas tening the extremity of the other section to a, fixed support 00 thus making the movement of the sprocket-chain one-half that of the crown of the gasometer.

The generator may be supplied with Water from a tank 11 (see Fig. 3) through a pipe 12,

said tank being supplied from a pipe 13, hav- 10. may of course be carried into effect by any suitable apparatus, but that herein described is, to the best of my present knowledge and belief, to be preferred for such purpose. As concerns said apparatus or machinery or combinations of mechanical parts, the same are set forth and claimed in my separate application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 737,183, and therefore are not claimed in this present application, Serial No. 737,182.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The process of making and purifying acetylene gas Which consists in first forming a volume of acetylene gas within a closed chamber which contains carbid of calcium, and then passing carbid of calcium through the volume of gas into a volume of water at a substantial distance below the surface of the water without passing said carbid from the surface of the water downward, and collecting the washed or purified gas from said surface, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The process of making acetylene gas which consists in formingavolume of acetylene gas-in a closed space which contains water at its lower and carbid of calcium at its upper part, thereby expelling the water from said space, and then passing carbid of calcium through the acetylene gas which hasexpelled the water and into and through a further vol- 11 me of Water solely at the lower portion thereof for the further production of gas, substantially as herein set forth.

EDWD. S. TITUS. Witnesses: AMAZIAH WHITNEY, DANIEL S. DECKER. 

